Total Pro Sports
Joe Flacco’s return to the starting quarterback position in Week 1 prompted Ryan Clark from ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown to make an insane statement this week.
The Cleveland Browns lost Deshaun Watson to an Achilles injury last season, and then he was forced to have a second surgery this year that will keep him off the field for much of the 2025 season. The team responded by loading up at the position this offseason. Cleveland traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Kenny Pickket, signed veteran Joe Flacco, and drafted rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
After two preseason games, the Browns officially named Flacco the starter, despite him not appearing in either game.
ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark thinks Flacco being a starter after age 40 is a revival of biblical quality.
During Monday’s episode leading into the preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Cleveland Browns had named Flacco as their number one guy going forward.
Clark compared quarterback Joe Flacco’s NFL comeback to nothing less than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed. Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ."
Ryan Clark reacts to Joe Flacco being named the Week 1 starter for the Cleveland Browns. pic.twitter.com/egSeH1HukS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2025
“Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ. Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed,” he said in the clip provided by Awful Announcing.
The dramatic analogy instantly grabbed attention, not just for hyping Flacco but for bringing religion into football talk. This wouldn’t be the first time that Clark stated something outlandish that had fans wanting him to be fired.
Flacco is one of two starting quarterbacks this season at age 40 or older.
Flacco beat out a group of young quarterbacks to win the Cleveland Browns’ starting job for Week 1, and the most experienced option in the room is set to join a minuscule group of NFL players to extend their careers into their 40s.
He emerged victorious in the position battle over contenders Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders, and Tyler Huntley.
Now, the question that everybody wants to know: How far can he take the Browns?
While he has not played a full season since 2017, Flacco made starts with each of his five previous teams and is fresh off a campaign in which he took over for the Indianapolis Colts with six starts.
Joe Flacco has already shown that he can lead the Browns to the playoffs, just as he did during his previous stint with the team.
He completed 65.3% of his throws in his eight appearances last year, marking a career high. He posted 12 touchdowns to seven interceptions with 1,761 yards.
